2019-06-01 Classic Cars

(Jacob Rumans) #1

84


‘ThenI recoveredandsent anemailto AlaninDevon,
thinking he was probably a 35-year old-youngster,
saying, “Wow, I cannot believe that my beautiful
Bluebird is still being loved and driven, thank you
for making an old lady very happy!” The next day I
received a reply from Alan saying, “You’re not an old
lady because your insurance details are in the MG Bible


  • I’m only a year and a bit younger than you.”
    ‘We corresponded by email and realised that we were
    both widowed and unattached. Then followed many
    phone calls. In July 2009 Alan came over to France and
    it was totally love at first sight.’


Jennie is reunited with Bluebird in 2009
‘I visited Alan at his home in Devon and when I saw my
Bluebird again I just cried and cried. Then to get into
the car and start the engine up and hear the familiar
“Vroom Vroom” was amazing. To drive her once more
was just a wonderful experience – trouble is that
Bluebird doesn’t have power-steering which makes it a
wee bit difficult for me to drive her on long journeys. In
April 2010 Alan proposed, in October I moved to Devon
and on 16 April 2011 we got married. Alan drove me to
the church in our Bluebird. What a wonderful day that
was – and, of course, I got my gorgeous Bluebird back.’

Apieceof the heart-shaped wedding confetti is now
gluedonto theMG’s glovebox door.
In the meantime Alan had made a few changes
to the car. ‘I’d moved the overdrive control from a
switchon the dashboard to the top of the gearknob
usingaTriumphmechanism, because it seemed a far
morelogicalplaceto put it,’ says Alan. ‘I also had the
sills replaced, switched to electric ignition, fitted a
dashboardclockto the passenger side and also added an
oilcoolerandanelectric fan. I respected the originality
ofthecar, butI alsowanted to drive and enjoy it.’
In November 2015 Alan began another extensive
rebuild. He removed the engine, gearbox and interior,
then trailered the rolling shell to Exbourne Cross Garage


  • a local garage and restorer. After a complete stripdown
    Bluebird returned to the road in April 2017 with yet
    another set of new sills, complete new floors, four new
    wings and a bare-metal respray.
    ‘Since getting married in 2011 we have now also
    bought a 1972 Triumph TR6, a 1971 Ford Zodiac
    Executive and a 1976 Scimitar, all of which are regularly
    taken to shows. We fitted a Moto Lita steering wheel to
    Bluebird – a Frenchman in a village called Le Mesnil-
    Garnier, ten miles from where I lived in Normandy,
    runs a place called the MG Bar and displays various MG
    car parts on the walls. He mentioned not having an MG
    steering wheel, so we took Bluebird’s the next time we
    visited. Hopefully it’s still there.’
    Of course, neither Jennie nor Alan can ever imagine
    parting with the MG they now share ownership of,
    ‘Bluebird is mentioned in our will as part of our estate,’
    explains Alan, ‘which means the car will stay in the
    family for a long time to come.’


Bluebird is now the centrepiece
of Alan and Jennie’s four-car fleet

‘Alan drove me to the

church in our Bluebird. I

got my gorgeous car back’

Fresh from a thorough overhaul, this
cupid-playing MG is now regularly
exercised at shows and events

[LifeCycle]MGBGT
Bluebird on wedding
shuttle duty in 2011
Free download pdf